Program

Workshop on Regional Innovation Systems

Tentative Program

A smart regional innovation system is comprised for actors that work aligned to foster innovation in their organizations, thus gaining competitive advantage, bringing economic and social benefits and expanding the opportunities for their people.

Smart People

People lie at the heart of any regional innovation system. The development of people towards innovation is a key element in any meaningful innovation system. What simple cases can we hear about this topic, direct from the people and institutions that are part of the innovation system?

Smart Knowledge

Knowledge & technology are the nutrients necessary to promote the innovation, since the idea creation to the transference and operacionalization of this idea into a successful product or service. Where is the knowledge, how to create it and make it flow?

Smart Networks

Regional innovation systems comprise actors from the triple helix (government, academia and industry) that need to be connected. The importance of these connections and how efficient they are demonstrate how progressive a regional innovation system can be.

Smart Regions (Innovation Locus)

People, institutions, networks need a place to operate, a region with infrastructure and elements that make the innovation possible. Science and tech parks, the Schools and R&D Labs in the companies are a part of the innovation locus, as well as mobility and living of our innovative people in the region.

European Commission (Europe): what does it represent the European Commission in the development of innovation in and out of Europe? What are the possibilities of collaboration and how to reinforce the exchange of ideas, knowledge, technologies, products and services between European players and our locals? Can we have a small, ready to action agenda with them, right now?

Regione Emilia-Romagn (Emilia-Romagna
- Italy):
a outlook in how the regional innovation system is organized in one of the most
exciting regions of Europe, whose economic sectors and culture show similarity
with most South-American regions.
Lessons learnt for the ones that want to ride this trip, told be someone
that has already made this journey. The
role of ASTER as the innovation hub for the region.

Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Provincia de Córdoba (Argentina): how the region of Cordoba, with great is developing its own innovation policies. The interaction with other actors, the goals and the construction of the strategy: an on-going initiative.

Ministério de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brazil): in recent years, with the approval of Innovation Law, Brazil has unveiled a strong policy towards innovation promotion. A statement about the current state of affairs in the innovation landscape in Brazil and how it affects the regional innovation systems on a daily basis: the opportunities, challenges and ambitions.

Fapesc (Santa Catarina): the role of the research and innovation funding agency in Santa Catarina. Past, present and future of the government direct support to innovation development in Santa Catarina and the opportunities for future collaboration with other regions.

19:00 h Tour
visit and welcome dinner/reception with the speakers at Cooperativa Aurora. For invitees only.

Mar/6/2013 (Wednesday) Day 2 – Business, People and Entrepreneurship in Regional Innovation Systems

9:00 – 9:20 Registration and Welcome

9:20 – 10:40 Session 3

CTA (Medellín / Colombia): what one of the most innovative and transformative cities is South America can tell us about the organization and effort around its regional innovation system? What are the possibilities of networking with them?

City of Lindóia do Sul (Santa Catarina): the tiny city of Lindóia do Sul is one among many in our region where agriculture plays a major role in the city development. Fustigated by competition from other regions, without an industrial base (or a big company serving as an anchor), the city is implementing a unique strategy to create its own micro-regional innovation system, taking humble farmers to become entrepreneurs by adding value to their products.

Epagri (Santa Catarina): the state agribusiness research company is responsible for transforming the reality of our agriculture by providing assistance and expertise to thousands of small farmers and producers. What is the Epagri role in the agribusiness innovation system and the relevance for small SMEs and farmers?

UnoChapecó and Acafe (Santa Catarina): the state university system (Acafe) and the workshop host (UnoChapecó) are a crucial element of the regionalization of the innovation policies and strategies. What the local universities are progressively doing to act more effectively in the development of the regional innovation system?

Sebrae (Santa Catarina): the Santa Catarina chapter of Sebrae, an institution that provides support to SMEs in Brazil, has been developing a program to form local innovation agents. What lessons can we learn from this on-going program and what to (or not) expect?

Acate (Santa Catarina): Acate, an industry association that is organized in clusters (e.g. agribusiness) explain how is the innovation landscape of agribusiness in Santa Catarina, the challenges, the players, the system, the actions. All guided by the actual development of its members, beginning as startups to become well established players.

Speaker: Director of ACATE (Santa Catarina)

LVI - Landesverband der Baden-Württembergischen
Industrie & STW Steinbeis (Baden-Württemberg): how clusters do promote development in one of the
most innovative regions in Europe? Lessons and pathways that we need to be
aware of and a comparison to other experiences throughout the world.

Umwelt (Santa Catarina): a small company in environmental/biotech technologies explains how it flourishes by offering expertise and developing technologies. A truly inspiration for technologists wanting to be entrepreneurs, where the value of technology and knowledge still needs to be recognized by some potential customers and users, as well as best practices in teaming up with universities and research partners in the region and abroad.

CRPA (Emilia-Romagna – Itália):
the importance
of technology in the development and value aggregation in the meat and milk
industry. The cases of Prosciutto di Parma and Formaggio
Parmegiano-Regiano. The role of
quality and innovation to increase productivity and competitiveness in a region
with similarities to Santa Catarina.

Round-table: business opportunities and challenges for the industry and the innovation promotion.

Mediator: Diógenes Feldhaus (Partner of Okyra Consulting - Brazil)

Attendants: representatives from the industry from all regions.

18:00 – 18:15 Session 6

Fapesc (Santa Catarina) and the SME Project Consortia: a summary of the project supported by the European Commission and the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Baden-Württemberg, Cordoba and Santa Catarina. New actions and initiatives that will be carried on in Santa Catarina.